Everything you need for your studies in one place. Everything you need for your studies in one place. Intonation and inflection are very similar in meaning and are sometimes used interchangeably. There are subtle differences between them though: intonation refers to the way in which a voice rises or lowers in pitch whereas inflection refers more specifically to the upward or downward movement of the voice. Intonation is affected by inflections. An example of intonation can be seen in most questions, particularly simple questions or yes/ no questions. e.g., "Enjoy the meal?" In this sentence, the last word has a rising intonation which emphasizes that it is a question rather than a statement. Punctuation is not visible in speech so intonation tells the listener how to interpret what is being said. Explore our app and discover over 50 million learning materials for free. By signing up, you agree to the  Terms and Conditions and the Privacy Policy of StudySmarter.